The Note

none

JP Chunga

Before the Utah Jazz, the Utah Stars and college basketball took center stage. Salt Lake City hosted the 1979 NCAA Final between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. But what established the franchise and kept it in Utah was the 1984 Jazz - the Team with Heart.

"We had really good players. We just needed to figure out who we were," Thurl Bailey said of that time. "And I think we developed an identity of toughness, an identity of putting ourselves in a position to win every night against better opponents on paper. So if you do that enough - if you have the right people at the helm then you’re gonna put yourself in the position to win games that people would never thought you would. So that year really is - I think - a pivotal year of what started the winning foundation of this franchise."

JP Chunga examined the early years in Utah in this edition of The Note: The History of the Utah Jazz.

Catch The Note on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

the-note-moving-to-utah-and-the-team-with-heart

The Note: Moving to Utah and the Team with Heart

Pete Maravich was the very first Jazzman signed. The future Hall of Famer inspired future members of the hall. Danny Ainge was one of the many players influenced by the Pistol.

"I mean the guy, he averaged 44 points a game over his college career," Ainge explained. "I mean that’s just insane. And with no three-point line and no shot clock. Maybe, more importantly, there was no shot clock. Just an amazing player. With his long floppy hair, and his long floppy socks. His techniques in shooting free throws. Everything was unique about Pistol."

Catch The Note: History of the Jazz on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

the-note-pistol-pete-maravich-and-new-orleans-jazz

The Note: Pistol Pete Maravich and New Orleans Jazz

Game 7 in the West’s 2007 First Round is one heck of a rewatch. Seriously.

The series was going back-and-forth - neither team had won on the other’s home floor. In a do-or-die game featuring Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, and Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer stood out with a 35 point, 15 rebound, and 5 assist performance. He scored 10 in the final quarter to help put Utah over the top 103-99.

Next came a 5-game series against the ‘We Believe’ Golden State Warriors, before eventually falling to the champion San Antonio Spurs.

To relive the team’s run to the West Finals and the Jazz career of Carlos Boozer, UtahJazz.com’s JP Chunga spoke to former NBA coach Tyrone Corbin.

the-note-tyrone-corbin-on-carlos-boozers-jazz-legacy

The Note: Tyrone Corbin on Carlos Boozer’s Jazz legacy

On the day before Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Quin Snyder (Duke reflected on a moment that set him on a path to Durham. 

“When he came out to see me on my visit - my home visit - he had this [projector], it looked like a big suitcase,” Snyder said. “I was surprised. Apparently it fit in the overhead that’s what he told me. There was a wall in our living room that was a good screen I guess. But he carried that projector across the country. I wasn’t good enough to warrant that.”

The story struck a familiar chord with his teammates - Jay Bilas and Johnny Dawkins. UtahJazz.com’s JP Chunga spoke to the former Duke Blue Devils about Coach K’s influence.

the-note-coach-ks-final-year-sparks-recruiting-visit-memory-from-quin-snyder

The Note: Coach K's final year sparks recruiting visit memory from Quin Snyder

In his first press conference back from a concussion, Donovan Mitchell invoked a former coach.

“It’s been tough because like I said with a concussion, you feel up and down. There are days when you want to do more, but the trainers hold you back - save myself from myself. If it was up to me I would do sprints everyday. I came up from Rick Pitino so I’m used to doing sprints at 6am, 12pm, and 8 o’clock at night...”

Why more than five years out of college is he bringing up Coach Pitino? JP Chunga spoke to a former Louisville assistant to find out Donovan’s connection to his former school.

9:55 — “He (Pitino) coached him hard”

the-note-donovan-mitchells-connection-to-louisville

The Note: Donovan Mitchell’s connection to Louisville

When Mike Conley and Rudy Gay entered the league, the Memphis Grizzlies were a 22-win team. Lionel Hollins took over midway through the 2009 season and finished with a 24-58 record.

Coach Hollins led the Grizzlies to the franchise’s highest high, a 2013 Western Conference Finals appearance, by sculpting Conley and Gay into winning NBA players. He caught up with JP Chunga to recount that time working with the Grizzlies-turned-Jazzmen.

10:55 — Rudy Gay’s transformation from scorer to role player

19:10 — Where their careers have taken them

the-note-lionel-hollins-discusses-teaching-rudy-gay-and-mike-conley-early-in-their-careers

The Note: Lionel Hollins discusses teaching Rudy Gay and Mike Conley early in their careers

utaafalk

Towering over the foosball table, Tony Bradley fit in among the kids at the Capitol West Boys and Girls Club. The friendly games reminded him of his summer camps days growing up in Florida. Some wins, some losses, all smiles.

“I was taking the game of foosball very seriously,” Bradley explained. “Growing up as a kid, I just loved playing it. Playing with the kids brought back those memories.”

Last Thursday before the Jazz’s home back-to-back last week, Bradley handed out food to a gym full of 125 kids and their families. 

Earlier, Georges Niang assisted 300 families in his second annual Turkey Giveaway at Parkview Elementary. Five-year-old Michael was awe-struck meeting the Jazzman.

“It’s so touching,” Niang said. “I feel like I’ve always been a giver. To see others happy makes me happy.”

“I love to help others,” Bradley said. “I truly feel great while doing it. It makes me feel a certain way when I try to help others. Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces - when they look at me and I look at them - I think it’s very special.”

jazz-players-embrace-community-with-turkey-dinner-and-visit-to-boys-girls-club

Jazz players embrace community with turkey dinner and visit to Boys & Girls Club

The Jazz will host the All-Star Game in 2023. UtahJazz.com’s Aaron Falk and JP Chunga caught up with Commissioner Adam Silver after the announcement to get a state of the league. 

3:50 — Adam Silver explains why Utah will host the 2023 All-Star Game

the-note-adam-silver-explains-why-the-all-star-game-is-coming-to-salt-lake

The Note: Adam Silver explains why the All-Star Game is coming to Salt Lake

Presented By:

Delta

<strong>Tonight's game against the Golden State Warriors has been postponed. <a href="https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-vs-golden-state-warriors-postponed">Learn More &gt;</a></strong>